Rosa Parks Elementary School

Rosa Parks Elementary School

Mankato, MN

105,000 Square Feet

Planning ahead for the future, ISD 77 decided to build a new elementary school for the growing Mankato, Minnesota community. With programming consultant Wold Architects and Engineers, ISG organized a local referendum. After the referendum successfully passed, ISG created construction plans for the facility.

Environmental sustainability was an important value from the early planning stages. With goals to make Rosa Parks Elementary School an energy efficient and environmentally friendly school, the facility was designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Schools Gold certification. Some of the sustainability features include a ground source heat pump system for heating and cooling, occupancy sensors for lighting, regional and recycled material use, water saving fixtures and landscaping, and various indoor air quality strategies. Additionally, pillars at the main front entrance feature stone locally quarried from nearby Kasota, Minnesota. These eco-friendly designs came with additional financial benefits. By minimizing operating costs and meeting maintenance needs, the District maximized return on its investment through this energy efficient, durable and long-lasting building.

Another important value that guided construction designs was student safety. To enhance security, the school entrance is designed so visitors must pass through the office before entering the school corridors. This added safety measure was implemented by separating the parking area into an upper level in front of the school for staff parking and parent pickups, and a lower level in the back designated for buses.

The 105,000 square-foot facility offers students many different amenities, including the state of the art media center. Complete with two adjacent computer labs, this modern space overlooks the two-story cafeteria. A public use area which remains open after school hours includes a gymnasium, meeting space, and a small kitchen. Grade level classrooms are clustered around support areas that include common space for group work, as well as restrooms, storage, and conference rooms.

Serving students in kindergarten through fifth grade, Rosa Parks Elementary School provides an interactive, safe, and educational environment for approximately 500 students.